DETROIT -- Anibal Sanchez hadn't faced a major league hitter in a game setting since March 12. So, naturally, he was a bit rusty.

But when that rust finally wore off, Sanchez looked every bit like the pitcher who had been crowned last year's American League ERA champion.

Making his season debut Friday, Sanchez needed 26 pitches to escape a rough first inning that saw the Baltimore Orioles plate two quick runs with their first four batters.

But he quickly settled in and quietly dominated the next three innings, mixing and matching four stellar pitches, before rain finally forced his early exit in Detroit's 10-4 win over the Orioles.

"He threw well," manager Brad Ausmus said. "Really well."

It was an impressive display of pitching from Sanchez and a strong indication that last year's production wasn't a fluke, proving yet again that, when healthy, he's the real deal.

Therein lies the biggest key to Sanchez's success this year: His health.

Already struck with inflammation in his throwing shoulder earlier this spring, Sanchez must be careful to not overextend himself this year in an effort to avoid another stint on the disabled list. He's delicate and, whether Sanchez wants to admit it or not, he must be handled with kid gloves right now.

Which is precisely why Ausmus made the smart decision in lifting him after the second rain delay, despite the fact that Sanchez was in a spectacular groove of sorts and had only thrown 69 pitches.

"Considering he had the shoulder issue in spring training and his pitch count was up, we felt like we didn't want to push him," Ausmus said.

Ausmus said he strongly thought about bringing Sanchez back out in fifth after a 34-minute delay, but reconsidered after the Tigers strung together a series of hits in the bottom of the fourth inning that forced Sanchez to wait even longer.

"If we would've gone back out and they got a double play and a popup, he probably would've gone back out," Ausmus said.

But that's not how the inning played out. When play finally resumed in the fourth, Rajai Davis crushed a three-run homer to give the Tigers a 6-2 lead. Two batters later, Torii Hunter smashed a solo shot that chased Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez from the game.

Baltimore's pitching change, coupled with the string of Tigers' runs in the bottom frame, resulted in an inning that lasted more than 10 minutes from when play finally resumed.

So Ausmus had a change of change of plans. He elected to lift Sanchez in favor of Drew Smyly.

"Really, it was a matter of how long (Sanchez) was done," Ausmus said. "Going into the restart of the game, he was going to pitch, but the bottom half of the inning was so long."

With Smyly readily available in relief, why take the chance? Why push Sanchez to the brink of his pitch-count limit? In his first start this season, nonetheless? Given all the variables, it was the correct call to make.

"I'm sure Sanchez would've wanted to go back out," Ausmus said. "But it was just a situation where we were thinking more long term."

Bringing Sanchez back out would've likely guaranteed a win Friday. But by lifting him after the delay and taking the cautious approach, it's possible Ausmus guaranteed the Tigers at least a dozen more.